Anybody with experience care to comment on troubleshooting
looseness in the steering and suspension joints and
connections in the front end of a 1988 Toyota pickup?

When I asked the folks at the tire store to do an alignment
check/adjust, they said some components (tie-rod ends, idler
and pitman arms) in the front end were too loose to do a
proper alignment, and offered to correct them for a mere
$450 (!).  I've got tools and some time, and am wondering if
I can check this out myself (to verify that I'm not being
scammed), and perhaps even put in some new parts myself.
From what I can tell, the parts aren't particularly
expensive.

Thanks,